The Dragons of the Canaries

Drachen der Kanaren

Kurt Mündl's sensational documentary covers its subject from ancient seafaring myths and legends that related stories of the "Dragons of the Canary Islands" as early as 2,000 years ago, up to the current state of research on these unique reptiles. Spectacular shots also illustrate the trying journeys undertaken by Oskar Simony at the end of the 19th century. The first giant lizard specimen captured by Oskar Simony in 1889 for the scientific world is still at the Vienna Museum of Natural History. But Mündl's film also demonstrates that animal species do not always benefit from being discovered: Only a few decades after Simony's sensational discovery the giant lizard of El Hierro was considered lost or extinct. Too many scientists and collectors had helped themselves to material from the small population.

The first-ever filmings realised by Kurt Mündl and his team also include a filming of the hatching of a giant lizard from start to finish. In addition to biological details on these lizards Mündl's film includes dramatic reenactments of Oskar Simony's expeditions and the life of the "Guanches", the Canarian aborigines, who hunted lizards to eat them. Animations of top quality are another asset of this film.

Awards: Ménigoute, International Ornithological Film Festival 2004: Ménigoute, International Ornithological Film Festival Award